Bill Cubit says this WMU defense is 'by far' the fastest of his tenure

Kalamazoo Gazette fileWMU head coach Bill Cubit said the Broncos defense is "by far" the fastest of his tenure.

KALAMAZOO — Perhaps it was the invigoration and aggression that comes with the first practice in shoulder pads. Whatever it was, Western Michigan University's defense looked really fast and disruptive Wednesday.

There were interceptions and forced fumbles and wherever the ball went, three or four defenders seemed to be there. More so than I've seen in a few seasons.

"Well, they're fast," Broncos coach Bill Cubit said, when asked about this perception. "There are a lot of team speed running around and Dave (Cohen) and his coaches have done a great job scheme-wise of putting their guys in spots to run around. And I think, speed-wise, he's putting guys in spots where they can make plays and feel comfortable. They can run."

I've heard talk of fast defenses before, however, so maybe this was just the illusion of an early season practice, I thought.

Not according to Cubit. When asked if this was the fastest WMU defense of his tenure, the Broncos' seventh-year coach didn't hesitate.

"By far," Cubit said. "The secondary, when Louis (Delmas) and E.J. (Biggers) were here, they were fast, but this group is fast all over. For the most part the linebackers and the front can run, and then when they start making their personnel adjustments, moving safeties down to linebacker, that's when you really see it."